Relay.



' Patented Aug. 7, 19H'.v

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

MAA/hm 4/ i f 3 4 E N VEN TOR.

A. H. JOHNSON.

RELAY.

APPLlcATloN FILED JUNE 4.1914

A. H. JOHNSON.

RELAY.

APPLlCATlON FILED JUNE 4.1914. 1 236,375. Patented Aug. 7.1917. 4'SHEETS- SHEET 2.

/N VENTOR.

H/S ATTORNEY /N ACT A. H. JOHNSON.

RELAY.

APPLICATION FlLED )UNE 4.19l4. N

Patented Aug. {,1917.

l 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

/N VENTO/Q.

HIS A ORNEY /N CT A. H. JOHNSON.

RELAY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4.1914. 1,236,557 5. Patented Aug. 7, 1917,

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

HS ATTORNEY N FACT UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR HENRY JOHNSON, OF EPSOM, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO-THE UNION SWITCH t SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

RELAY.

Application led'J une 4, 1914.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR HENRY JOHN- soN, a subject of the King of England, residing at Epsom, in the county of Surrey, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Relays, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric relays for use with periodic current e. either altermating current, or pulsating direct current), and it has for its object to provide a construction adapted to aford a safeguard against the result of actuation by foreign currents whether alternating or direct; safety being insured by bringing about reversal of the position of the relay-switch (i. e. displacement of the switch from its normal or operative position) on the passage through the relay either of no current or of current having a character different from that to which alone the relay is intended to respond.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elementary plan view of a relay having a ring-electromagnetas adapted for the purpose of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a polarized relay adapted to work with a iing-inagnet energized by pulsating direct current. Fig. 3 is a sidel elevation showing the improved relay with independent coils operating through the medium of a sway-bar. Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation showing the improved relay controlling the relay-switch through the medium of a pump. Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation showing the improved relay controlling the ielay-switch through the medium of a ratchet-driven centrifuge. Fig. G is a plan view of the ratchet-mechanism and Fig. 7 a plan view of the centrifuge shown in Fig. 5. Figs. 8 and 9 are side elevations viewed in two directions at right angles to one another, showing the improved relay controlling the relay-switch through the medium of a chain. Figs. 10 and 11 are diagrams showing examples of electric connections which may be employed where the improved relay is used for controlling railway signals on the rail-circuit system.

Of these figures, Fig. 10 is an elementary diagram showing, generally, connections suitable for use with rail-circuits and iingmagnets supplied with current in common from a power-circuit serving the entire signaling system; and Fig. 11 shows connec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. '7, 1917.

Serial No. 842,848.

tions suitable for use in a similar arrangement where each relay controls the circuit of a signal-motor through the medium of a slow-release electromagnet.

The ring-electromagnet of the relay shown in Fig. 1 has two pole-pieces 11 and 12 which face one another from opposite sides of the ring? 13. Toward one end of the ring a pair of coils 14, 15 are wound on those limbs of the magnet which respectively carry the pole-pieces'll and 12, and toward the opposite end are wound a similar pair of coils 16, 17; the coils 14 and 16, which are separated by the pole-piece 11, being normally in mutual opposition, and similarly with the coils 15 and 17, which are separated by the pole-piece 12. The coils 14, 15 (which may be termed the control-coils) are respectively connected to the members a, b of the control-circuit which, in the example illustrated, are shown as the rails of a railway track-circuit; while the coils 16, 17 (which may be termed the feeder-coils) aie respectively connected to the leads y of the feeder-circuit which, in the example illustrated, is understood to be the power-circuit supplying alternating current to the system as a whole, the lead 00 being connected to the rail a and the lead y being connected to the rail b.

18 represents (in cross-section) the polarized, armature of the relay, this armature being so mounted At-hat one of it-s poles is presented between the pole-pieces 11 and 12 while the armature as a whole is free to oscillate toward and from each of said polepieces alternately. It will be seen that, under normal working conditions, the coils 14 and 16, as a result of their simultaneous energization at any given instant by current of one direction, will both produce the same polarity (say N) in the pole-piece 11, and that at the same instant the coils 15 and 17 will both produce the opposite polarity (say S) in the pole-piece 12. Hence, assuming it to be the N-pole of the armature 18 which is presented between the pole-pieces 11 and 12, this pole will, at the given instant, be repelled from 11 and attracted toward 12. At the next alternation of current, however, the converse effect will be produced, the N-pole of the armature 18 being now repelled from 12 and attracted toward 11. Consequently, so long as current-alternations continue in both the pairs of coils,

synchronously and at the rate to which the armature 18 is tuned to respond, this armature will continue, under magnetic propulsion alone, to oscillate between the polepieces 11 and 12 in time with the currentalternations. 1f, however, the conditions of current-supply be disturbed, the armatureoscillations 'will be correspondingly affected, With the result either that the armature will vibrate only feebly, or will remain in the mid or neutral position, or (in the event of direct-current of sufficient power gaining access to either or both circuits) willv assume one or other of its extreme positions in accordance with whichever pole-piece it is continuously, or more powerfully, attracted toward.

The armature 18 may be a permanent magnet, or it may be polarized by means of an electromagnetic coil encircling the armature as a core and supplied with continuous direct current. Such a coil may be either wound upon the armature itself so as to move therewith as in Fig. 2, or mounted in a fixed position and adapted to afford freedom of movement for the armature within it.

Vhen the improved relay is energized by pulsating direct current, the magnetic flux will obviously flow in one direction only, with the result that the polarized armature, magnetically propelled in the corresponding direction, will require to be returned by spring-pressure during the intervals between the electric impulses whereby the magnetic flux is'produced. Fig. 2 shows an armature 18 for use with pulsating direct current. This armature, which is fulcrumed at 19, is polarized by continuous direct current flowing in a coil 20 carried by the armature, and one of its poles is drawn by an adjustable spring 21 toward that extremity of its beat from which, at each current-pulsat-ion, it i's moved magnetically by the flux generated between the pole-pieces 11, 12 of the relay. The extremity of the armature 18 is shown as attached to a exible connection for controlling the armature-switch by the continuous oscillations of the armature.

In Fig. 3 is shown a relay having two independent coils 22, 23 which are understood to be so synchronously energized by alternating current, as to produce opposite polarities in their respective pole-pieces alternately, 24 being a polarized armature (or it might be a pair of separate armatures) presenting opposite poles to the polie-pieces of the coils 22, 23. The armature 2J: constitutes or is mounted on a sway-bar pivoted at 25 to one arm of a bell-crank lever 2G, which is fulcrumed at 27 and coup-led to whatever device is employed for controlling the armature-switch by the continuous oscillation of the sway-bar. In the example illustrated, the lever 26 is coupled at 28 to a rod the coil Hence, as the polarities of the respective pole-pieces 22a and 23 will, under normal working conditions, be S and N at one current-alternation and N and S at the next, and so on, it follows that, at. successive current-alternations, the two poles 2l n..

and 2li-S will be simultaneously attracted toward, and simultaneously repelle'd from, the pole-pieces 22a and 28, and so on;the armature always moving as a whole in a direction perpendicular to its own length, and therefore maintaining a constant oscillation of the bell-crank lever 26 about its fulcrum 27. In the event, however, of disturbance of these normal working conditions (whether as the result, for example, of continuous direct current or alternating current of different periodicity gaining access to one of the coils, or of cessation of current in either coil), it will be seen that the respective poles 2l and 21S will no longer be simultaneously o attracted or simultaneously repelled, but one will be attracted while the other is repelled or vice versa, with the result that. at each current alternation, the armature will merely turn about its pivotal attachment 25 with out imparting motion to the lever 2G.

In Fig. et the polarized armature 18, oscil lating between the pole-pieces 1l and l2 o the relay, forms one arm of a bell-raul lever fulcrumed at 2f), the other arm il() o" this lever being coupled by a link -l to a flexible diaphragm 32 which serves as the propelling member of a pump. The diaphragm 32 forms the cover ot' the pumpchamber 33 which has a suction-inlet 3i, normally closed by a non-return valve 85. and a delivery-passage 3G connuunicating, by way of a non-return valve 37, with a cylinder 38 wherein a plunger 5%.() is fitted to work, the cylinder 38 ha ving au adjustable leakage-exit i0. The pump as a whole is immersed in a liquid contained in a tank 4l and reaching above the level of the leakageexit 40, so that the chamber 33 and cylinder 88 are normally both filled with liquid to the level at which the liquid stands in the tank 4:1. The plunger 39 is coupled by a link 42 to a leaf-spring l?) forming the relay-switch, this switch, which is pivoted to a. fixed point at 44, being adapted, when raised, to make contact with an adjustable terminal l5, and the switch 43 and terminal being connected to the respective poles of the circuit to be controlled by the relay.

So long as the armature 18 coutumes to oscillate so as to alternately raise and depress the diaphragm 32, liquid is alternately sucked into the chamber 33 from the tank 41 and forced through the passage 36 into the cylinder 38 so as to lill the latter and lift (or hold raised) the plunger 39 and cause the switch 43 to contact with the terminal 45, thus closing the circuit controlled by the relay. After the switch 43 has established contact with the terminal 45, the plunger 39 is prevented from rising, and the v liquid which continues to be forced into the cylinder 38 escapes by the eXit 40, whose area is adjusted so as to insure that, if the armature 18 vibrates with at least a. predetermined frequency, suficient pressure will be maintained within the cylinder to prevent the plunger falling when once raised. On the armature 18 ceasing to vibrate at the predetermined speed, the plunger 39 is free to descend (under gravity or spring-pressure) so as to withdraw the switch 43 from contact with the terminal 45 and thus break the circuit; the liquid pumped into the cylinder 38 or compressed therein by the descent of the plunger, escaping by way of the exit 40.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the polarized armature 18, oscillating between the pole-pieces 11 and 12 of the relay, forms one arm of a lever fulcrumed at 46 and coupled by a horizontal rod 47 to a pair of links 48, 49 which are pivoted by one end to the rod and at their opposite ends to the outer extremities of a pair of radial arms 50, 51 centered about the aXis of a ratchet-wheel 52. This wheel is mounted to revolve on a vertical axis, and its teeth are engaged by spring-pressed pawls 53, 54 pivoted to the outer ends of the arms 50, 51 respectively, these arms eX- tending in opposite directions from the axis of the wheel so that, as the armature 18 oscillates, the pawls 53, 54 will alternately transmit motion to the ratchet-wheel and thus keep it continuously in rotation. The wheel 52 is fast on a vertical shaft 55 which also carries an inverted conical or funnelshaped hopper 56 divided into cells (four are shown in Fig. 7) by radial partitions 57 each containing a ball 58, the hopper being itte'd with a vertically-movable cover 59 which is coupled by a link 60 to a leafspring 43 forming the relay-switch. This switch is shown as constructed and adapted to operate as already described with reference to Fig. 4, the same reference-numerals serving to denote corresponding parts of the switch in Fig. 5.

So long as the armature 18 continues to oscillate, the ratchet-wheel 52 is kept in revolution and therefore rotates the hopper 5G, with the result that, if the armature 18 vibrates with at least a predetermined frequency, the balls 58 will be projected so as to lift (or hold raised) the cover 59 and cause the switch 43 to make contact with the ceasing to vibrate at the predetermined a speed, the balls 58 cease to press against the cover 59 with suicient force to hold the switch 43 in contact with the terminal 45, so that the circuit is broken,

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the polarized armature 18, oscillating between the pole-pieces of the relay, forms a lever fulcrumed to swing about a pair of pivot-centers 61 from which the armature depends, the lower end of the armature having attached to it a downwardly-extending chain 62 whose lower extremity is attached (preferably by means of a ball-joint as shown at 63) to a leaf-spring 43 forming the relay-switch. The spring 43 is downwardly strained by means of an adjustable set-screw 64 (or it might be a weight), but in other respects is shown as constructed and adapted to operate as already described with reference to Fig. 4, the same reference-numerals serving to denote corresponding parts of the switch in Figs. 4 and 8.

So long as the relay remains inoperative, the downward stress of the spring 43 stretches the chain 62 so that both the latter and also the armature 18 extend vertically, the armature being held midway between the pole-pieces of the relay. When the armature 18 begins to oscillate, a wavemotion is propagated in the chain 62, whose effective length is thus reduced so as to raise the switch 43 until, on the armature vibrating with a predetermined frequency, the switch makes contact with the terminal 45 and so closes the circuit controlled by the relay. It is sometimes found that the vibration of the armature 18 produces a gyratory (or circular wave) movement in the chain 62, the result of this, however, being as just described. On the armature ceasing to vibrate at the predetermined speed, the stress of the spring 43 straightens the chain and withdraws the switch from the terminal 45.

In the diagram, Fig. 10, which showsl three successive insulated track-sections C, D, E of a line of railway, the rails a, of each track-section form part of a rail-circuit to which alternating current is supplied from the power-leads a2, y which serve to feed the system as a whole. In each rail-circuit is interposed a relayR which is to beunderstood as controlling the signal (not shown) governing the admission of trafiic to the corresponding section of the line, each relay comprising a ring-magnet constructed and adapted to operate as already described with reference to Fig. 1. The relay-switch andthe circuit controlled thereby are, however, omitted for the sake of simplicity. It will beobserved, moreover, that the connections in the case of adjacent track-sections are reversed, so that any leakage of current from one section to the next will bring about cessation of oscillation in the relay-armatures appel-taining to both sections, with the result that the normal position of the relay-switches affected will be reversed. In any case (whether owing to the entrance of a train into a section, or the occurrence of leakage from the rails of an adjacent track-section, or a stray current gaining access to either of the relaycoils) disturbance of the normal conditions pre failing in the coils of any track-relay will cause the oscillations of its polarized armature to cease, with the result that (assuming the corresponding signal to be normally held at line clear as usual in automatic, or partautomatic, signaling arrangements) traffic will be debarred from entering the section to which such relay appertains, until the normal conditions have been restored. In Fig. 10, 1 represents resistances for adjusting the strength of the alternating current supplied from the leads y to the rails a., of the respective track-circuits.

In the diagram, Fig. 11, which shows an insulated track-section G between portions of two adjacent track-sections F and H of a line ot railway. the signals being normally held at line clear,7 (t, are the respective rails forming part of each track-circuit, and al, i/ the leads of the power-circuit wherein alternating current flows for the service of the system as a whole, while t represents transformers for furnishing of a reduced voltage current to the respective rail-circuits. Ilach signal S is shown as controlled by an electrically-operated signal-motor m in circuit with the power-leads -y/, the circuit of the motor being normally closed by a switch (35 so that the signal is held at line clear." The switch G5 is governed'by means of a slow-release electromagnet GG to whose armature the switch is attached. One end of the winding of the electromagnet 66 is connected, through a condenser 67, with a. switch (SS vibrating in unison with the polarized armature 18 of the track-relay, this armature 1S being shown as carrying the switch GS. At the respective limits of its oscillation, the switch G8 alternately makes contact with terminals G9, 70, which are respectively connected with the other end of the winding of the electromagnet (3G through batteries 7l and TQ. The coils 73 and 74 of the relay are respectively in circuit with the rails a. L and with the power-leads cf, y, while the relay-armature 18 is shown as polarized by means of a stationary coil T5 fed with continuous direct current from a battery 7G. Conde-users 7T may be interposed between the ends of the relay-coil 73 and the rails a and b respectively, as indicated.

Under normal working conditions, the conjoint action of the vibrating switch GS and condenser G7 causes the slow-release coil G6 to be momentarily energized by currents of opposite sign alternately, so that, the armature of this electromagnet being continuously retained in the attracted position, the switch G5 remains closed and hence the motor m continues to retain the signal S at line clear. Should the relay-armature 1S for any reason cease to oscillate, so that the switch 68 makes contact with neither of the terminals 69, 70, the coil G6 will almost immediately cease to hold up its armature and the circuit of the motor m will therefore be broken at the switch 65. In the event, moreover, of the relay-arlnature 1S being permanently held attracted by either of the relay coils 73 or 74, the coil GG will also cease to hold up its armature, notwithstanding that the circuit of this coil then remains permanently closed at one or other of the terminals 69, 70, the condenser (37 producing a static condition in the circuit of whichever battery, 71 or 72, happens then to be closed through the coil GG.

It will be observed that in Fig. l1, as in Fig. 10, the connections to sucessive trackcircuits are so reversed as to insure that leakage of current from one track-section to the next will upset the conditions normally prevailing in the relay or relays affected, with the result that the corresponding switch or switches 65 will be reversed and the signal or signals S governed thereby will be free to assume the danger position.

Although I have herein shown and described only a few forms of relays embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing` from the spirit and scope of my invention.A

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A relay comprising an armature adapted to maintain continuous oscillation, a contact, and means interposed between said armature and said contact and responsive to continuous oscillation of said armature for holding said contactI in a predetermined position.

2. A relay comprising electromagnetic means, two pole-pieces which have opposite instantaneous polarity when said means is energized by alternating current, a polarized armature pivotally mounted to oscillate between said pole-pieces in response to the changes of polarity of said pole-pieces, a contact, and means interposed between said armature and said contact and responsive to continuous oscillation of said armature when the electromagnetic device is energized by alterna-ting current to hold said contact in a predetermined position.

A relay comprising an Lrinature adapted to maintain continuous oscillation, a flexible member to which the oscillations of the armature are communicated, and a Contact controlled by said member and held in a predetermined position when the eieetive length of the flexible member is reduced owing to the" wave motion thereof.

4. A relay Comprising' an armature adapted to maintain continuous oscillation, a lieXible member to which the oscillations of the armature are communicated, and a eon tact member controlled by said fiexible member, said Contact member being biased in such direction as to hold the iieXible member taut, whereby when the frequency of oscillation of the armature is the natural period of vibration of the flexible member the contact member is moved in opposition to its bias by the reduction of the effective length of the flexible member due to its wave motion.

5. A relay comprising an armature adapted to maintain continuous oscillation, a contact biased toward one position, and means interposed between said armature and said contact and responsive to continuous oscillation of said armature for moving said contact to and holding it in another position in opposition to its bias.

6. A relay comprising an armature adapted to maintain continuous oscillation, a contact biased toward one position, and means interposed between said armature and said Contact and responsive to continuous oscillation of said armature at a predetermined periodicity for moving said Contact to and holding it in another position in opposition to its bias.

ln testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ARTHUR HENRY JOHNSON.

Witnesses H. D. JAMESON, O. J. WORTH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

